SAFA — Israeli settlers set fire to furniture belonging to an elderly Palestinian man in the occupied West Bank early Tuesday, targeting his home for the second time in less than two weeks and leaving him with fractured ribs and fingers, as a wider wave of settler attacks and Israeli military operations continued to threaten Palestinian homes, farmland, livestock, and property across the occupied territory.

The latest attack took place on the southern outskirts of Burqa village, east of Ramallah, where settlers returned to the home of Jamal Bajis, a Palestinian man in his early seventies who suffers from health problems, and deliberately set fire to furniture that had already been damaged in an earlier arson attack.

Bajis had moved the damaged furniture into the yard in preparation for repairs, but the settlers returned, poured flammable substances over it, and set it ablaze once again, destroying property that the elderly man had been attempting to salvage.

The attackers also targeted a welcome monument at the entrance to Burqa, placing rubber materials on the structure before setting them on fire in an attack that extended the destruction beyond the family's home to a public landmark.

When Bajis went outside to help extinguish the flames, he sustained fractures to a rib and several fingers and was subsequently transported to a hospital for treatment.

Burqa village council head Sayel Kanaan said the incident was part of a broader escalation in settler attacks across the occupied West Bank, where Palestinian families are increasingly facing repeated assaults on their homes and property.

The targeting of Bajis's belongings for a second time illustrates the continuing insecurity facing Palestinian residents, including those attempting to repair damage caused by previous attacks, as repeated acts of arson and property destruction threaten their safety and ability to remain in their communities.

Settlers Attack Palestinian Homes and Steal Livestock Near Ramallah

In Silwad, east of Ramallah, Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian home on Tuesday morning, throwing stones at the building before young residents confronted the attackers in an attempt to protect the property.

Israeli occupation forces subsequently arrived at the scene and, according to local accounts, provided protection for the settlers while detaining several Palestinian young men inside a room in one of the homes.

No arrests or injuries were reported in that incident, although the military intervention heightened tensions among residents already facing repeated settler attacks.

Silwad Mayor Raed Hamed also reported that settlers accompanied by Israeli forces stole sheep from a Palestinian home during an operation in which several houses were searched.

The incident occurred on Al-Asour Street, near an Israeli military camp and close to the Ofra settlement and a settlement outpost on Mount Al-Asour, an area where Palestinian residents have reported mounting pressure on their homes and agricultural livelihoods.

The theft of livestock represents a serious economic loss for Palestinian families who depend on sheep farming for income and food, particularly in communities where restrictions on movement and access to agricultural land have already undermined traditional livelihoods.

Palestinian Olive Trees Destroyed in Northern West Bank

In the northern occupied West Bank, Israeli settlers continued cutting down olive trees belonging to Palestinian farmer Khaled Naji Bani Odeh in the Umm al-Kubaysh area, east of Tammun in Tubas province.

The destruction comes during the Palestinian olive harvest season, when farmers depend on access to their trees to collect crops that provide essential household income and support agricultural communities throughout the year.

For Palestinian families, olive trees represent more than a seasonal agricultural resource, as many have been cultivated and maintained across generations and remain closely connected to the history, identity, and economic survival of their communities.

Repeated attacks on olive groves, including the cutting and destruction of productive trees, can deprive farmers of income for years while increasing the financial pressure on families already struggling with restricted access to land and agricultural resources.

Israeli Attacks Target Palestinian Monuments and Cultural Symbols

The destruction has also extended to Palestinian monuments, memorials, and cultural landmarks, according to figures released by the Palestinian Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission.

The commission documented 18 attacks targeting Palestinian monuments and symbols across the occupied West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, between the beginning of 2026 and October 20.

Of those incidents, 16 targeted monuments and memorials, one involved a shrine, and another targeted murals depicting Palestinian figures.

The attacks have raised concerns over the protection of Palestinian cultural heritage and public spaces, particularly as the destruction of monuments and symbols occurs alongside attacks on residential property, agricultural land, and other aspects of Palestinian community life.

More Than 20 Demolition Notices Issued East of Jenin

In Jenin province, Israeli occupation authorities issued more than 20 demolition or removal notices targeting Palestinian structures and facilities in an area extending east of Jenin city, from Al-Badia Roundabout toward locations near the American School and Al-Shamikh Roundabout.

The notices affect a wide range of structures, including agricultural rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, greenhouses, parks, a car showroom, and commercial, tourism, and agricultural facilities situated along a settlement bypass road.

Local settlement affairs official Tareq Ighbariyah said the measures were connected to preparations for settlement expansion following the return of Israeli settlers to previously evacuated settlements in the northern West Bank.

He also reported that approximately ten gates had been installed along the settlement road, raising further concerns about restrictions on Palestinian movement and access to surrounding land.

The demolition notices threaten businesses, agricultural facilities, and other structures that support the livelihoods of Palestinian residents, while potentially clearing additional space for settlement-related infrastructure.

Palestinian Man Beaten in Masafer Yatta After Settlers Steal Family's Sheep

In the southern occupied West Bank, Israeli occupation forces raided the home of Mohammed Mahmoud Makhamreh in the Ma'in area of Al-Karmel, near Masafer Yatta, and physically assaulted him.

Makhamreh was injured during the raid and transported by a Palestine Red Crescent ambulance to Yatta Governmental Hospital for medical treatment.

Local activist Osama Makhamreh said the assault came just two days after Israeli settlers attacked the same home and stole the family's sheep under the protection of Israeli forces.

The consecutive incidents have intensified concerns over the safety of Palestinian families in Masafer Yatta, where residents have faced repeated settler attacks, military raids, and restrictions affecting their homes and livelihoods.

Israeli forces also carried out raids and searches in several other areas of the occupied West Bank overnight and early Tuesday, arresting Palestinians, including former prisoners.

Israel Declares More Palestinian Land as 'State Land'

The latest attacks coincided with additional Israeli measures affecting Palestinian land ownership and access in the southern occupied West Bank.

On Monday, the Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission reported that Israeli occupation authorities had issued two new declarations classifying 182.81 dunams of land in Battir, in Bethlehem province, and Sa'ir and Al-Shuyukh, in Hebron province, as so-called state land.

The declarations, dated October 18, 2026, were signed by the official responsible for government and abandoned property within Israel's Civil Administration.

Such declarations have long been criticized by Palestinian officials and human rights organizations as mechanisms used to extend Israeli control over occupied territory and facilitate settlement expansion at the expense of Palestinian land rights.

The new classifications add to concerns over the continued appropriation of Palestinian land at a time when communities across the West Bank are facing settler attacks, demolition threats, and restrictions on agricultural access.

Repeated Attacks Deepen Threats to Palestinian Communities

The incidents reported across the occupied West Bank illustrate how Palestinian communities are confronting overlapping threats involving settler attacks, Israeli military raids, property destruction, livestock theft, demolition notices, and measures affecting control over agricultural land.

From the repeated arson attack against Jamal Bajis's property in Burqa to the destruction of olive trees in Tubas and the assault on a Palestinian resident in Masafer Yatta, the violence has affected families whose homes, livelihoods, and connection to their land remain central to their ability to survive under occupation.

Palestinian officials and local activists warn that repeated attacks, particularly when accompanied by military restrictions and settlement expansion measures, place increasing pressure on residents and undermine their ability to live safely in their communities.

Source : Safa News